Kay Taylor

Christmas Day 2012 will always be a memorable occasion for Cheryl Pollard.

Because not only was it the day that Stephen Lamont proposed - it was also the first time they felt their baby boy kick in her stomach.

Cheryl Pollard and Stephen Lamont, of Clayton-le-Woods, tied the knot at Brindle St James Church, followed by a recpetion at Mytton Fold Golf Club, Whalley. 'Pictures by Gautam Narayanan Creative Photography - www.gnphoto.co.uk

“For a couple of months leading up to Christmas, Stephen saying that he was really looking forward to it and it was going to be really good,” she explains. “I didn’t really think too much into it because we’d just bought a house a few months before in Clayton-le-Woods, so I thought he was just excited about our first Christmas there together.

“On the day, I opened a huge box from Stephen with a grey teddy bear inside.

“I pulled out the bear and didn’t even notice at first that there was a ring tied to the teddy’s paw, and that Stephen had a hoodie made for the bear saying ‘Cheryl - Will you marry me?’

“I was completely shocked and wasn’t expecting it at all.

“Stephen gave me a hug trying to calm me down as I was pregnant and it was at that moment that he felt the baby kick for the very first time, which just made the moment even more special.”

Cheryl Pollard

“It is one of those moments I will remember for the rest of my life.

“Stephen gave me a hug trying to calm me down as I was pregnant and it was at that moment that he felt the baby kick for the very first time, which just made the moment even more special.”

Little Evan was born in May the following year.

Cheryl, an accounts manager, and Stephen, a HGV mechanic, both originally from Preston, met 17 years ago at Ashton-on-Ribble High School.

But it wasn’t until 2007 that they actually got together - thanks to some clever match-making from Cheryl’s brother Nicky Pollard, and his girlfriend Emma Kennedy, who knew the pair separately and decided to play cupid.

Subsequently, Nicky and Emma were best man and chief bridesmaid on the big day on September 20, which was held at Brindle St James Church, followed by a reception at Mytton Fold Golf Club, Whalley.